Chapter 678: Lighter Mood

The ten members of the Council gathered in their usual meeting hall, but the atmosphere was considerably lighter than during their previous meetings.

Instead of tense expressions and worried discussions, most of them wore satisfied smiles as they examined the reports and artifacts delivered by Samuel and his team.

They had finally collected all the Demon artifacts they needed from the Ruins.

The achievement was no small matter. The Council had deliberately assigned these missions to Samuel and his team because of their difficulty.

The Ruins they explored were dangerous even for experienced fighters. Even with a capable team, the Council hadn’t been certain they could retrieve everything.

Some of the missions were so dangerous that the Council considered the possibility of losing several fighters before they could complete their objectives.

Yet Samuel and his companions had returned successfully, bringing every artifact with them.

One of the Council members leaned back in his chair and let out a satisfied laugh.

"I must admit, I didn’t expect them to finish everything this quickly. We gave them some of our most difficult missions, and they completed every single one," he said.

"Me too," another member agreed, examining the latest mission report. "The reports from those Ruins were concerning enough on their own. Several of those places hadn’t been properly explored at all so we have little information about them. But they managed to overcome the obstacles and retrieve the artifacts. Samuel has done excellent work leading that team."

"Indeed. His leadership deserves recognition, but we shouldn’t overlook the contributions of others. Leyan, Maira, Don, and Arven have all proven their worth. It shows that they can handle threats that would have overwhelmed less experienced groups," Eorgen, the elf leader, said.

A few members nodded in agreement.

The Council had monitored the team’s progress through their mission reports, and the results spoke for themselves.

Their success wasn’t simply a matter of luck. Samuel had led them through increasingly dangerous situations, while each member contributed according to their strengths. Together, they had accomplished what the Council needed most.

Then Maethion brought up the two newcomers.

"We shouldn’t forget Jack and Mina. Those two have made a greater contribution than I initially expected."

"Especially Jack," Galmur said. "He only joined Samuel’s group for these missions, but his combat abilities are extraordinary. According to the reports, he played a significant role in several of their most dangerous encounters."

"His strength is certainly impressive, but his experience is even more interesting. He seems to understand how to deal with threats that most fighters would struggle to comprehend. We still know very little about his background, though."

"Perhaps we should investigate him more thoroughly."

"Perhaps," another Council member replied, "but I see no reason to treat him as a threat simply because he is unusual. So far, his actions have benefited Sivagadh Fortress. We should be careful not to turn a capable ally into an enemy through unnecessary suspicion."

The discussion continued, with several members expressing their approval of Jack and Mina’s contributions.

Mina was still relatively inexperienced compared to the others, but her rapid improvement had caught their attention.

She had adapted well to the dangers of the Ruins and had shown considerable potential during the missions. The two newcomers were an unexpected advantage.

More importantly, the collection of artifacts meant that they could finally move forward with their larger objective.

Eorgen placed both hands on the table, drawing the others’ attention. His expression grew serious, though the satisfaction in his voice remained.

"Regardless of how surprising these results are, what matters most is that we finally have everything we need. We’ve spent too long preparing for the next stage while waiting for these artifacts. Now we can begin the real work.

"The construction of the weapon must be our priority. Once it’s complete, we’ll have a means of fighting the Demons on more equal terms. We can then begin preparing an expedition into their realm."

The mention of their ultimate goal quieted the room for a moment.

The Council had spent years searching for ways to challenge the Demons and the other Higher Beings responsible for the catastrophe that destroyed countless worlds.

Their current weapons and magic were insufficient to guarantee victory against such powerful enemies.

That was why the artifacts mattered so much. Each one contained properties and traces of power that the Council needed for their research.

With all of them gathered, their craftsmen and researchers could finally begin assembling the components required for the weapon they hoped would allow them to kill Demons and penetrate their realm.

"We still have plenty of work ahead of us," Eorgen cautioned. "Gathering the artifacts was only the first step. We must ensure that the weapon functions as intended, and we need a reliable plan for entering the Demonic Realm. We can’t afford to send our people into enemy territory without adequate preparation."

"Of course," Maethion replied. "But at least we can finally begin. Until now, we were forced to divide our attention between gathering the materials and developing the weapon itself. That problem is behind us."

Several members exchanged relieved smiles.

After a long while, their objective seemed within reach. They still faced formidable obstacles, but the successful completion of these missions had removed one of the greatest barriers to their preparations.

Their discussion shifted toward the other resources needed for the weapon’s construction, the researchers who would oversee the process, and the preparations required for the eventual expedition.

The mood remained optimistic, and the tension that usually accompanied discussions about the Demons seemed to have eased.

Throughout the meeting, Maethion remained mostly silent.

He sat among the other Council members with a faint smile on his face, listening as they praised Samuel’s leadership and discussed the importance of the recovered artifacts. Occasionally, he nodded along with the conversation, but he offered little commentary of his own.

The others saw the team’s success as an unexpected stroke of fortune. Now that everything had worked out, their relief was understandable.

But Maethion had never felt the doubts. He knew that Clyde would make their missions proceed far more smoothly than the Council anticipated.

Of course, even Maethion hadn’t known every detail of what would happen. The Ruins were dangerous, and unexpected complications were always possible. Nevertheless, he had expected the team to succeed.

Now, as the Council discussed the weapon and the possibility of entering the Demonic Realm, his faint smile remained. Everything was proceeding as he had anticipated.

But he needed to know what Clyde was planning next.

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